Chapter 91

Chapter 91
## Chapter 91

The next day, a tiny girl was sitting in the Tears of Beldern tavern.

Compared to a burly man, her height barely reached his chest.

In fact, while it wasn’t uncommon to see short girls strolling through the noble district, her figure felt out of place on this street filled with fierce mercenaries.

Just by seeing her dressed in a monochromatic black and white gauze dress and a shawl, it was evident she belonged to a noble family.

There was no valid reason for her to be in such a precarious place, and yet, the girl was sitting at the bar with a somber expression.

«Even if it seems like she has no companion, there are two at that table over there.»

Jayden, who was serving apple juice, cast a glance around the tavern.

The two men sitting near the entrance, drinking beer, appeared to be servants of the Duplain family.

In short, the person sitting at the bar sighing for no apparent reason was none other than Diella Katherine Duplain, the youngest of the Duplain family.

Lately, more and more nobles were frequenting Tears of Beldern.

It was an advantage for the nobles, known for their extravagant spending, to come frequently.

Usually, where high-class people gather, commoners with peculiar aspirations also tend to flock, which greatly benefits business.

Even so, there were already too many of them.

The young ladies of the three great noble families of Ebelstein had visited the place at least once. Not even the tea house located right next to the noble district, the Elfontaine Salon, received so many distinguished visitors.

“Are you looking for Dereck? He is currently working at the Kelvenrock employment agency.”

“Employment agency? Is that different from the mercenary guild?”

“Yes. It’s a place that accepts simple job requests, not dangerous subjugation missions.”

“And why would Dereck go to a place like that? He can earn enough working as a mercenary.”

“He didn’t go to look for work, but to hire people.”

Diella tilted her head, confused.

An environment as rustic as a tavern could be strange or even intimidating for a lady like Diella, raised with such delicacy. However, she showed no sign of discomfort.

She seemed to have an innate bravery.

“The founding date for the Barony of Ravenclaw had already been set, so he went to look for maintenance staff for the mansion.”

“Has the approval already been granted?”

“Yes. With the support of several nobles and much behind-the-scenes maneuvering, it seems everything went well. It is likely that Dereck will become the Lord of the Barony of Ravenclaw before spring ends.”

However, it was an empty noble title, with barely two members in the family.

But Dereck had to overcome many difficulties to obtain even that empty title. After all, it was a valuable reward.

“To properly manage the newly designated Barony of Ravenclaw in Rodelen, we must act urgently. Once the maintenance of the mansion is finished, it will be necessary to hire staff and negotiate taxes with the local landowners.”

“Mmm… I see… Dereck will be very busy. But I didn’t come looking for Dereck.”

“Oh, really? Are you planning to submit a request to the Beldern Mercenary Guild? If so, I can offer you a discount.”

“No, I am looking for a mercenary named Pheline.”

Upon hearing those words, Jayden’s fingers trembled slightly.

And hundreds of scenarios flashed through his mind.

He knew perfectly well that Dereck’s network of contacts had expanded enormously in recent years, but he didn’t expect the repercussions to occur so quickly.

Jayden let out a hollow laugh and said:

“Ah, yes… You mean Baroness Pheline.”

“…W-What?”

“…?”

“No, it’s nothing… Yes. That person. I just want to see her once…”

The reason he referred to Pheline that way was to give Diella time to prepare herself mentally.

Regardless of the circumstances, it was true that Pheline had become Dereck’s wife, both in name and in fact.

By reminding her of that well-known fact, Diella would surely accept the current situation.

“H-how is she?”

“Ha, ha, how should I put it? She is one of the prides of our Beldern Mercenary Company. If it weren’t for Dereck’s exceptional talent, Pheline would have been the star of the company.”

“Is she that good?”

“Yes. Although young and with a striking appearance, she is a truly promising figure. While she has the disadvantage of coming from the slums, that probably doesn’t bother Dereck. In fact, he surely felt a great affinity with her.”

Jayden spoke of Pheline with the heart of a father.

Since Pheline hated nobles so much, he thought it best to ensure she didn’t feel intimidated in front of Diella.

On the other hand, Diella looked at him with a pale face.

“Yes, pretty… how much does it cost?”

“Well, she wouldn’t compare to the young noblewomen who have perfected their beauty throughout their entire lives.”

“I see? I understand…”

“Yes. But can a person be judged solely by their outward beauty? Her poise and strong character in the face of any adversity are already enough reasons to value the girl named Pheline. Furthermore, the bond that exists between them is natural, so it is normal for Dereck to feel great affection.”

Thinking he was perhaps going too far, Jayden continued praising Pheline.

‘Pheline, please don’t feel intimidated anywhere…’

While Jayden spoke with such a cheerful expression, Diella couldn’t help but feel even more intimidated.

Even leaving aside other qualities, the bond of having been born in the slums was something no noble could imitate.

“Why would anyone want to imitate such a vulgar origin?”

That question could logically arise, but Diella shook her head and lowered her voice.

“Yes, Dereck is the magic master I respect the most. But he has no idea what women are like and is so absorbed in magic that I was worried he might have fallen into some strange trap…”

“Then don’t worry. In my opinion, Pheline is the perfect wife—wise and virtuous—for Dereck.”

If the people involved had heard that, they would have felt disgusted, but Jayden said it laughing, as if it were nothing.

“T-That…! You shouldn’t judge so quickly!”

“Oh, no?”

“People have potential. Judging whether a bond is the best or not is premature…”

Seeing Diella talk nonsense, the more perceptive ones nodded their heads in understanding.

It might not have turned into love, but at least the feeling of not wanting to give him up to another person was there, and it was increasing.

The situation could have ended there, but this girl, who still didn’t fully understand how the world worked, didn’t even know what emotion was causing her anxiety.

She simply waited anxiously for the girl named Pheline to return, tapping her foot for no apparent reason.

While she drank her apple juice, about ten minutes passed, and then the tavern door opened with a creak.

“Uncle Jayden! The job is done. Pay up quickly, okay? And pay last month’s bill too.”

“Oh, Pheline.”

Pheline entered the tavern with a lively voice. Then she quickly turned her head and locked eyes with Diella.

“…”

She was the lioness of the Duplain family. Just her gaze hinted at something out of the ordinary.

‘Oh…?’

Pheline knew it instinctively as soon as she saw her. That noble elegance she despised so much emanated from the body of that small girl.

“…Who are you…?”

“Diella Katherine Duplain, of the Duplain family. Dereck’s first disciple…”

“Ah, right…”

Although Pheline usually responded with joy and in a loud voice, her tone dropped as if she were in a bad mood in front of Diella.

Seeing that, Diella wasn’t in a good mood either, and from the start, the two couldn’t help but make the worst possible first impression.

“I heard you’re going to marry Dereck… I came to see what kind of woman you are.”

“…”

Now that she thought about it, there was that contract.

Lately, she had only focused on subduing monsters, and just imagining the contents of that contract made Pheline’s skin crawl.

“Ah… yes… that’s right…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

That was the whole answer.

«That’s all she said,» Diella thought.

Dereck was a man who knew nothing but magic, who had emerged from the depths of the slums, but his passion for magic was serious and unmatched.

The fact that the person who married him treated the marriage with such indifference already made her deeply uncomfortable.

She thought Pheline would be radiant with joy, full of the happiness and romanticism typical of newlyweds. If she were, it would bother her; but if not, it also unsettled her… She didn’t know what to think, and her mind spun with confused thoughts.

In reality, she wasn’t even sure what she felt, but either way, she didn’t particularly like Pheline. It was more an emotional matter than a rational one.

On the other hand, Pheline felt the same.

From the beginning, she didn’t like nobles, and the way Diella looked her up and down in Tears of Beldern as if she were judging her was incredibly annoying.

Just by talking about marriage to Dereck, her face tightened, and to top it off, that noble girl, his disciple, had appeared to examine her from head to toe. It was no wonder her rebellious spirit had awakened.

An unstable balance existed between the two.

Although Diella’s status was infinitely superior, Pheline was Dereck’s wife.

In this inevitably tense situation, where neither could underestimate the other, Jayden, caught in the middle, observed with great interest how events would unfold.

«I’d love to put this arrogant noble in her place, but if I act carelessly, there could be consequences.»

Pheline hated nobles, but she wasn’t reckless.

So, after resting her chin on her hand and pretending to think for a moment, she soon looked like she had a brilliant idea and approached the bar. Then, she sat cheerfully next to Diella.

“You said you were Dereck’s first disciple, right? Then you’re not a stranger to me~.”

“…”

The way she referred to him as “our Dereck,” with such familiarity, sparked a strange repulsion, but Pheline was the type of girl who could endure that kind of discomfort for a greater cause.

“Dereck will always be in your debt. It’s very reassuring that the young lady of the Duplain family personally looks after him.”

Saying this, Pheline clasped her hands and smiled sweetly.

“…”

Diella looked at her with a complex and subtle expression.

For some reason, just seeing that girl named Pheline made her feel a burning rage.

She spoke politely, but she felt as if she were scratching her on the inside.

And, in truth, Pheline was.

She felt as if Dereck had been taken from her, so she was determined to provoke Diella with all kinds of false flattery and provocations.

Surprisingly, Pheline’s blows hit the mark.

“I heard you helped him get the title of baron~. Thanks to you, the Barony of Ravenclaw was approved. Thank you very much. Truly, thank you very much~.”

“Uf… Uf…”

“Thanks to that, we were able to start renovating the manor house, and Dereck and I were able to build our home. We will never forget the help of Miss Diella and we will form a beautiful family full of love. Thank you very much!”

It was a conversation full of flattery, but as Diella listened to Pheline’s incessant words, she felt a knot in her stomach and a burning sensation washed over her.

But what could she reply?

Pheline had done nothing wrong. If she lost her temper now, it would be a useless outburst and could cause great trouble for Dereck.

Thinking that, Diella couldn’t do or say anything.

‘Because she has Dereck… the lioness of the Duplain family can’t say a single word…?!’

Meanwhile, Pheline was immersed in a tremendous euphoria she had never felt before.

During expeditions with Dereck and Ellen in the labyrinth, she had enjoyed playing with arrogant noble girls, but this… this was something else.

Manipulating them like this, with words, that truly was fun.

Then Pheline took a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, and let herself be carried away by delicious ecstasy, with the most ecstatic expression in the world.

“My love… Oh, sorry… That’s what I call him when we’re alone. Our Dereck will be very grateful to you in the future, so if he ever offends you, please forgive him generously. And if anything happens, let me know. We are like one body and soul!”

“Uf… Uf…”

“I should have prepared a gift… But as you see, I just returned from work, so I’m not in the best hygienic condition and came empty-handed. What a pity! Would you mind if I send a thank-you gift to the Duplain mansion? If not, there’s nothing to be done, but we cannot ignore the benefactor who did so much for my husband!”

“Uf… T-that… Uf…”

“Please! Let me help you, Miss Diella! If you are the benefactor of my beloved husband, then you are also my benefactor! For him, I want to help you with all my heart!”

“Ah… aaah! Aaah!”

Finally, at the limit of her endurance, Diella grabbed her hair on both sides of her temples and scratched, not caring if it got tangled.

Then she jumped up from the bar and ran out of the tavern, screaming as if she had seen some indescribable horror.

Although everything happened in an instant, seeing the escorts —presumably Diella’s bodyguards— run out after her in a panic made it clear she wasn’t coming back.

Crash!

Creak, creak.

As he watched the tavern door swing open after being kicked by Diella, Pheline smiled with immense satisfaction.

“Maybe I was born for this day…”

“Pheline. You are truly ruthless.”

“Did you see the face of that noble lady who ran out? Uncle Jayden, she was as pale as if someone had splashed her with blue paint! Hahaha! Hahajajaja! Hahajajajajaja!”

Seeing Pheline laugh so hard she clutched her stomach and could barely breathe, Jayden couldn’t help but laugh too.

He knew she had a talent for crushing noble pride by any means, but he didn’t imagine it was so fierce.

“Wow, Pheline. You have very thick skin.”

“Thick skin? I only moved my tongue a little, that’s all.”

“Your lines were quite intense, even if only for a moment. How could you say those things?”

“Mmm…”

After laughing for a good while, Pheline finally caught her breath and drank the cold water Jayden offered her.

She exhaled deeply, set the glass on the bar, and began to calm down.

Finally, Pheline began to remember the things she had said in front of Diella.

“Calling him that… darling, husband… there is nothing I didn’t say. What if they really get married?”

“…”

“If Dereck had been in the tavern, his expression would have been priceless.”

This time it was Pheline’s face that turned pale.

“Uf… Uf… What have I said…?”

In her frenzy to defeat a noble, she had gone too far and blurted out all kinds of embarrassing phrases. But now that she had regained her composure, she realized how humiliating it had all been.

Pheline buried her face in the bar, her face as blue as Diella’s.

Although she hadn’t tasted a drop of alcohol, she felt nauseous and pressed her temples to try to control herself.

At that rate, she was no different from Diella, who had run out scratching her head.

«This one or that one… both have disgustingly strong pride.»

That was the only thought Jayden had as he looked at Pheline.

Maybe she just wanted to humiliate the noble a bit, pretending to be Dereck’s virtuous wife, but no one knew how that might turn against her.

At least, that’s how Jayden saw it.

***

—

Opinion Letter

— Considering that there are no significant procedural flaws in granting the title of baron to Dereck Ravenclaw, the Duplain family raises no objections to his appointment.

— Considering Dereck Ravenclaw’s magical abilities and reputation, the Belmierd family believes he has proven himself sufficiently worthy of the title of baron and supports its granting.

— The Beltus family presents no objections to granting the title of baron to Dereck Ravenclaw.

—

Letter of Appointment

In the name of the Empire,

I, Guttrel III, declare the following.

Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, in recognition of your loyalty and dedication to the Empire, as well as your outstanding achievements, I grant you the title of Baron of the Rodelen region.

Consequently, the following rights and responsibilities are granted:
1. To govern the Rodelen region, the Ravenclaw fief, and the surrounding territories.
2. Eligibility to attend the Council of Rotfail in the southwestern continent.
3. Judicial and fiscal authority within the territory.
4. Duty to contribute to the defense of the Empire.
5. Unwavering loyalty to the imperial family and the Empire.

May your wisdom and your just government bring prosperity to the land, and may our Empire grow stronger and stronger.

This title will be inherited by you and your legitimate descendants for generations, but will be immediately revoked upon any act of treason against the Empire.

I swear to fight for the peace and prosperity of the Empire.

Bearer of the radiant crown, protector of the continent, and navigator of the Milky Way,
Plakior Rovengard Guttrel III

***

Time passed with cruel speed.

Especially when one was focused on something, it seemed to move twice as fast.

Without realizing it, winter had ended and spring was in full swing.

Under the warm sun, the green mountains and fields displayed their splendor in their own way.

Shhhh.

Dereck wiped the sweat from his forehead, with his tunic sleeves rolled up, standing in front of a small mansion next to the vineyards of the Rodelen region.

He sat on a nearby stump and unfolded the letter that had just arrived.

It was his letter of appointment as a baron, drafted at the suggestion of Lord Melverot.

The appointment, which Dereck thought would be delayed, moved faster than expected.

Apparently, Linus had indeed managed to persuade Grand Duke Beltus behind the scenes.

«…Nothing in this world is free. What is happening in the Belmierd family for that drunkard to try to recruit me…?»

Just as Dereck was about to lose himself in his thoughts, he decided to focus on the present for the moment.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Creak! Creak!

The workers Dereck had hired were repairing the deteriorated mansions.

Dereck had been helping for a while, but now he stayed on the sidelines, silently observing the renovation works.

For a noble’s mansion, it was quite modest, but compared to the houses in the commercial district, it was truly luxurious.

He slowly contemplated the almost finished mansion, then folded the letter and put it in his pocket.

«High-ranking nobles have grand coronation or investiture ceremonies, but low-ranking nobles like me, who govern remote and forgotten lands, end up like this.»

There was no formal celebration, only a document with the emperor’s seal.

Probably an imperial scribe copied it with care, but it’s likely that Emperor Guttrel III didn’t even look at it for more than a few seconds.

Such was the fate of lower-ranking nobles.

Dereck had no reason to complain. In fact, for the first time in a long while, he felt quite satisfied.

The spring breeze floated through the vineyards.

A solitary stump stood in the garden filled with flowers, with butterflies fluttering around it. Sitting on it, with his arms crossed and a serene gaze, he watched as the roof of the mansion took shape.

He had hung his cloak next to the stump, and his staff rested to one side.

In the middle of the meadow, where the leaves whispered, Dereck silently observed the mansion and closed his eyes.

“…”

From the days when he slept under a rag in the snow of the slums.

To the long days reading magic books in the residence left to him by his mentor, Katia.

And the years spent at Tears of Beldern.

And now, upon opening his eyes, he realized that, somehow, he had acquired a fairly large mansion thanks to his own abilities.

The path of life doesn’t change so drastically. Generally, it changes gradually, slowly, and steadily.

Then, suddenly, one regains consciousness and only finds faint tracks along the path traveled.

Only then does one realize how far they have come.

In reality, when climbing the mountain of life, it is often difficult to realize how high one has reached.

That is why, from time to time, one looks back to evaluate their position in the landscape below.

And so, you take a brief pause on the path of life to reflect.

‘I’ve come a long way.’

That brief thought could remain as a memory.

Haa…

Derek Lydorf Ravenclaw.

That was how he became the baron of the distant Rodelen region.

“I’d better get going.”

Regrettably, there was no time for sentimentality.

There were many things to attend to immediately, and worries kept piling up.

And, above all, the preparations to reach a new level were almost complete.

Step, step.

The sound of his footsteps on the path.

After finishing his rest, Dereck picked up his cloak and staff and returned to the mansion.

Innumerable tasks and goals awaited him, but in essence, Dereck’s central objective was only one:

4-Star Level.

A level that not even those born of noble blood could reach without at least a dozen years of refinement.

A forbidden realm for commoners without lineage. A level where one begins to transcend the laws of magic, harmonizing with the stellar system while casting spells that reflect their own nature.

A level where, depending on the person, one can even begin to create a unique and personal magic.

Dereck wanted to reach that level.

And the foundations were almost ready.